We visited Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in early February. First time there. $3 admission for the car - self pay in an envelope in a slotted box. We hiked the yellow trail - easy to follow and offered some great shade. Saw armadillo, wood stork, snowy egret. Carried in our picnic lunch and sat at the picnic tables at the half way point along the Guana River. Lovely! There are bathrooms and a water pump at the trailhead. Great way to spend a few hours.

I allotted a short amount of time here but should have planned a lot more- something to keep in mind next time in the area (although it was a cold, rainy day, and I didn't bother to load up on insect repellent before walking one of the many trails). The visitors' center is not to be missed- the educational displays are impressive and comprehensive. Admission is based on the honor system- there seems to be no Venmo/PayPal/Cash App options, so bring a few dollar bills.

This place is beautiful and well worth the three dollar entry every time! Trails are super well maintained and well marked. Didn’t see many wildlife this visit except for a digging armadillo. Many different trails of varying lengths and easy to combine to make longer or shorter. Only issue is the bugs. I always be sure to wear bug spray even if it’s not that hot. Don’t recommend in the summer, worst time of the year to visit when it’s hot + humid all the bugs are out. Otherwise highly recommend checking out this place. Excited to visit again!